The Thickness Of Ice Analysis

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Recommended: Analysis of a love poem

A Comparison of Love Poetry
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Love is one of the most popular poetic themes. It is an intensely personal theme and can be approached in a great variety of ways. It is a theme affected by times. Many people believe that the true definition of love is found in the Bible. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 quotes, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." Although many people believe this is the true definition of love it is not …show more content…

The three poems are, The Thickness Of Ice by Liz Loxley, How Do I Love Thee? by Elizabeth Barrett Browning and First Love by John Clare.

The Thickness of Ice by Liz Loxley is a modern day poem on love between two people written between 1980 and 1990. It uses an extended metaphor to portray the feelings of the two people it is describing. The metaphor is ice-skating and how they are testing the thickness of the ice and wondering when it is going to break, "we'll skate nearer the centre of the lake." The poem describes how there is "ice" between the two people, eventually it breaks and then ice is formed again. The 'ice' is referring to the feelings and the atmosphere between the two people involved. There is awkwardness and tense feelings between them at the start as the 'ice' has not been broken. Eventually the 'ice' is broken and they are comfortable being in each other's company. Throughout the poem the two people experience different feelings. At the start there is lack of trust and they stay to the edges of the lake. Trust grows each time they meet, so that they are "less …show more content…

The second aspect of love is unrequited love. This is where he loves her but she does not love him. He has a deep passion and infatuation with this woman and she doesn't even know of his existence.

This poem is a good description of falling in love. It describes in detail the physical and emotional effects of love on a person. John Clare's experience of falling in love is strange as the woman he had a passion for didn't even pay him the slightest bit of attention. This is how it is different from the other two poems as the other person wasn't feeling the same feelings. John Clare has been able to portray his feelings well by the words and language he has used in this poem.

Looking at these three poems show how poets' attitudes to the theme of love can vary. My reactions to each poem varied. The Thickness Of Ice reflects disillusionment, How do I Love Thee shows how love can be elevated above everyday feelings and First Love showed how someone is able to fall deeply and passionately in love at first sight. Out of the three poems I can't decide on a favourite as they all deal

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